Whoa, I killed the thread.

AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!

Nora, you've pretty much summed up exactly how I feel. I joined the military because I believe in our country and I'm proud of the time I spent in the service, I really am. But I did it to protect everyone's rights. Not just the rights of the wealthy, the Christian, the Moral Majority and their ilk. One of the parts of the enlistment/officer commissioning oath is to protect and defend the Constitution and all I see is people trying to dismantle it, while claiming they're upholding it.

At least Wisconsin has finally got a Democratic majority in our state legislature for the next four months. That's a positive I cling to; I just hope they can get something done in that time and not dither around as they so often do.

I just defriended and blocked an old military buddy for going on and on about the ACA "tax" and how it's going to hurt him. I'm tired of people misinterpreting what the ACA is going to do and how it's going to do it. It doesn't matter what benefits the majority of Americans will derive from it, he's concerned about his taxes going up. He lives in Nevada, which has no state income tax. I'm so tired of seeing this kind of hypocrisy, it makes me want to scream.

Sorry about the rant; I has feels.

Also, HOLY CRAP, Vortex. Very glad to hear you are okay. That was a scary accident.

{{Strix}} Faster healing and less pain~ma on the wrist.

{{Teppy}} Reduced hip pain~ma.

{{smonster}} General life-coping~ma. I am one with you on struggling with my budget. I took a vacation for the first time in three years and I know it's going to fuck my budget for the rest of the year, but I wanted it so bad. I'll deal with the fallout the best I can.

Also, hugs and hairpats to others; I've skimmed so many posts to catch up, I'm a bit lost with who else needs them.

Sometimes, Nora, I try to imagine myself trying to answer the questions a presidential candidate has to answer.

"Nope, I don't go to church. Actually, I think most religions are harmful institutions. Some are flat out evil. I do believe teenagers should have sex and birth control and easy access to abortions. I wouldn't care if they legalized marijuana. Probably a good idea. Are we the greatest country in the world? I don't even know how to measure that but I do know that I dislike the inequities of our economic structure, the power of corporations to overrun democracy and lack of commitment to education. We should tax the fuck out of rich people. I don't really understand people that want to get a false, puffed up sense of pride out of being America. A lot of our values as a country seem completely fucked up to me. We're extremely hypocritical and seem to be actively hostile towards women, gays, children and immigrants. And education."

So nice to have a lazy morning on what is normally a work day.

Nora - I've been considering my thoughts on patriotism also. Though I'm coming from a different direction. I wasn't born in the US. My parents had moved to Iran to live. Forever. But after I was born they decided to move back to the US.

So, despite all the stuff you noted, I'm still proud to be an American. Cause I know I may not have ever had the chance to speak up against those issues. I may not have ever gotten an education.

It is just a matter of perspective and I'm not trying to say you should change your mind or anything.

a country that seems to believe that being poor and sick is a moral failing and unworthy of care, concern, or compassion.

Well, that's what Jesus taught us about the poor and sick, right?

Oh, wait...

I am currently spending my last day at the beach assembling 80 baby shower favors for my cousin's shower. While cutting 240 lengths of ribbon the exact same size I remember that the reason I used to find this fun was because I used to get paid to do this.

I haven't had a good night's sleep in a week so can't assemble my complicated views on patriotism.

I struggle with the whole "proud to be an AmerIcan". Most of my clients chose to be here. It's the best place they've found to raise their kids and work and that's huge. But this country also discriminates against them in so many ways. Not just because they are immigrant - undocumented or otherwise- but because of skin color, religion, poverty, and lack of education. That said, I will share one story:

A Kenyan client came here to seek asylum for herself and her children. She told me that her son used to shake and cry when he heard a siren because in Kenya, sirens meant police coming to hurt you. She said that after two years here, she knew she and her family were safe because her son now knew that in the US, if you called, the sirens meant the police were coming to help you.

Squee! And so begins home ownership!

Squee! Isn't it great? I'm about to go paint my bathroom a difficult shade of green, AIFG!

Do people define AIFG as "and it feels good" or "and it's fucking great"? I use the latter definition, myself.

There are a lot of things about America that disappoint and anger me (things already noted by others), but I actually do love my country, so I guess that makes me a patriot.

I guess I should note that I don't feel anti-American either. I certainly recognize that things are often worse in other countries and there are still many freedoms and possibilities here.

But my heart doesn't swell with pride when I see the flag, you know? I'm just too conscious of how that kind of patriotism, that sense of nationalism is a way to cover over deeper issues and manipulate people.

Stephanie, that story made me tear up a little. I'm so glad she and her family feel safe now.